“We’ve had some private discussions and we weren’t super-happy with how they went and how we felt about each other. It’s tested the relationship to the maximum,” he revealed.

But according to some, the aversion to Vettel’s personality is not just limited to Australians and the ‘tifosi’.

Indeed, Marko was asked about Vettel’s controversial statement after the Singapore grand prix, whilst considering his and Red Bull’s domination of F1.

“Whilst there’s a lot of people hanging their balls in the pool very early on Fridays, we’re still here working very hard and pushing very hard,” Vettel had said.

But Marko insisted: “I find what he said great and pithy and anyway it’s true.

“Seb wants to keep the workload just as high in the team as it has been. That’s why we are bringing in Daniel Ricciardo, a young, hungry driver who will continue to push. Not Kimi Raikkonen,” he added.

Marko has yet another theory.

“Sebastian is not as transparent as a Fernando Alonso or Lewis Hamilton,” he said, “who tweet their thoughts all around the world.

“Sebastian sacredly protects his private life wherever it is possible,” added Marko.